Lexical Summary Chelbah: Helbah Original Word: חֶלְבָּה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Helbah Feminine of cheleb; fertility: Chelbah, a place in Palestine -- Helbah. see HEBREW cheleb NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfem. of cheleb Definition a city in Asher NASB Translation Helbah (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs חֶלְבָּה proper name, of a location town assigned to Asher Judges 1:31, site unknown, ᵐ5 Ξεβδα, ᵐ5L Ελβα; (compare Assyrian Ma—alliba Schr Dl, but see אַחְלָב below) Topical Lexicon Geographic Setting and Regional Associations Helbah is listed among a cluster of towns within the inheritance of the tribe of Asher along the Phoenician coastline (Judges 1:31). Together with nearby Acco, Sidon, Ahlab, Achzib, Aphik, and Rehob, it lay in a fertile maritime zone renowned for trade routes and agricultural abundance. The surrounding region formed a cultural bridge between Israel and the great seafaring cities of Tyre and Sidon, making Helbah part of a strategic corridor that linked the Promised Land with the wider Mediterranean world. Biblical Context Judges 1 records the early settlement efforts of the tribes following Joshua’s conquest campaigns. Verse 31 notes: “Asher failed to drive out the residents of Acco or of Sidon, Ahlab, Achzib, Helbah, Aphik, or Rehob” (Judges 1:31). Helbah thus becomes emblematic of Asher’s incomplete obedience to the divine mandate to dispossess all Canaanite peoples (Deuteronomy 7:1-5; Joshua 13:1-6). The failure was not merely military but spiritual, revealing a compromise that would later ripple through Israel’s history. Historical Significance 1. Unfinished Conquest: Helbah’s continued Canaanite presence testifies to Israel’s partial conquest strategy after Joshua’s death. While the initial victories were decisive, the lingering fortified city-states such as Helbah demonstrate how toleration of idol-practicing neighbors eventually invited syncretism (Judges 2:11-13). Spiritual Lessons and Ministry Application • Complete Obedience: Helbah reminds believers that “partial obedience is disobedience.” Asher’s reluctance illustrates how seemingly minor concessions can undermine long-term spiritual vitality (1 Samuel 15:22). Connected Themes in Scripture 1. Incomplete Dispossession: Compare Zebulun’s experience (Judges 1:30) and Naphtali’s (Judges 1:33). The pattern culminates in the recurring refrain, “In those days there was no king in Israel” (Judges 17:6; Judges 21:25), pointing to the need for faithful leadership. Modern Relevance Helbah speaks to contemporary believers about vigilance in small areas of compromise. Whether geographic, vocational, or relational, any “Helbah” left unconquered may become a foothold for worldly influence. Yet Helbah’s coastal horizon also hints at God’s redemptive intent to reach the nations. The same shoreline that once bore witness to Israel’s wavering would later receive the footsteps of fishermen-disciples commissioned to preach Christ to every creature. Forms and Transliterations חֶלְבָּ֔ה חלבה chelBah ḥel·bāh ḥelbāhLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Judges 1:31 HEB: אַכְזִיב֙ וְאֶת־ חֶלְבָּ֔ה וְאֶת־ אֲפִ֖יק NAS: or of Achzib, or of Helbah, or of Aphik, KJV: nor of Achzib, nor of Helbah, nor of Aphik, INT: of Ahlab of Achzib of Helbah of Aphik of Rehob 1 Occurrence |
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